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    Tuesday, April 05, 2022

    Cheesy Chicken and Vegetable Bake


    I have been pet sitting and here is my little charge, she was my constant companion for the last 10 days
    her name in Lola and yes of course I sang the song many times during my stay 
    The Kinks have a lot to answer for
    I was cooking for one so I managed to make some of the food that I cooked "morph" into more than one dish.
    i.e. Chicken stock made from roasted wings became Chicken Soup which then was used to poach some Chicken Breasts, which then were turned into this Chicken and Vegetable Bake

    It doesn't look particularly attractive but it was very tasty and I got to use up the Vegetables that were sitting in the fridge

    So you will need

    Chicken Stock about  2 cups enough to cover the breasts 
    1 Chicken Breast per person
    50 gms butter
    3-4 mushrooms chopped
    I onion peeled and chopped
    1 carrot washed and chopped
    1 red pepper chopped
    1 yellow pepper chopped
    6 Brussels sprouts chopped
    Big handful of spinach  roughly chopped

    For the roux
    50 gms butter
    50 gms flour
    500 pls of milk
    Sea salt and Freshly ground black pepper

    1 cup Grated Cheese (Spilt in 2)
    Fine breadcrumbs about 3 tablespoons 

    So first gently poach the chicken breast in simmering chicken stock
    this will take about 20 mins


    Set aside and let them cool in the stock this will help to keep them moist 
    Then cut into 2 cms pieces

    Meanwhile in another pan 
    On medium to high heat 
    Melt butter and throw in the mushrooms
    Season with S & P
    Saute and remove from pan


    Meanwhile in the same pan sauté the Onions, Carrots and Peppers and put aside

    Prepare the Brussel Sprouts and Spinach

    Wipe the pan and add 50 gms of butter
    Melt and add the Brussels sprouts , sauté for a few minutes
    Add the flour and stir well,
                                                                                                                
    let the flour cook out for about 4 minutes, stirring constantly

    Slowly add the milk stirring until the sauce is lovely, silky and thick 
    Meanwhile grate the cheese
    Add the1/2 the  cheese and the chopped spinach

    Add the rest of the vegetables and the chicken to the sauce
    Then lightly grease a baking dish and fill up your dish
    Sprinkle with the remainder of the grated cheese and then sprinkle fine breadcrumbs onto
    just to lightly cover
    Pop into 180C preheated oven and bake till cheese in melted and it is bubbling away nicely 
    Probably about 25 mins 

    Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of the dish before it went into the oven and also when it came out so you will have to trust me that it looks and smell divine

    I dished up this helping and wolfed it down
    Yum